The average UK wedding now costs £28k, with 20% of Brits spending over £50k on their dream day.
However, low key weddings are on the rise, with 30% of couples wishing they had a micro wedding.
Weddings are famously one of the happiest times of a person’s life, with around 243,000 couples tying the knot annually in the UK.[1] Despite this, weddings can end up costing a couple a small fortune, in 2024, the average wedding cost on average £28,610.
To understand how much Brits are spending in 2025, the team at greetings card marketplace thortful has surveyed Brits who got married in the last 10 years to uncover how much Brits are spending and where brides and grooms in 2025 onwards should budget their money.
Luxury wedding planners, Siobhan Craven Robbins, and Andri Benson have also offered their expert guidance on keeping costs down while planning the perfect day.
The Costs Of Weddings
Money talk doesn’t have to kill the romance. There’s no single right budget, and many couples are proving it’s possible to plan an unforgettable day without financial strain.
The average UK wedding spend came in at £28,610, but costs varied widely. Almost one in five couples (19%) went all out, spending £50,000 or over, while 7% were able to pull off their big day for under £5,000. Demonstrating that there is no ‘perfect’ amount to spend on a wedding day.
While the amount people spend varies, it is increasingly common for couples to have to take on debt to celebrate their big day, with just under half of couples (47%), taking on some form of debt.
Other borrowing statistics include;
- 8% of couples borrowed under £1,000
- 12% of couples borrowed between £1,000 and £5,000
- 4% of couples took on over £20,000 of debt
- The average amount borrowed totalled just £3,917
Several factors can contribute to this accumulation of debt, with 36% of people reporting high expectations from family and friends pushing them to spend beyond their means. A lack of realistic budgeting also plays a significant role for 48% of people, as small unplanned expenses can quickly add up.
What Couples Would Change
Even if their wedding went off without a hitch, most couples would alter their weddings in some way if they were to do it all over again. Most notably, 28% of couples regret overspending so much on their big day, this is similar to 30% of couples who wish that they had chosen to have a ‘micro wedding’ instead. This shows more than just a simple desire for a smaller event, it demonstrates a broader shift away from the large, traditional type of wedding.
Reducing Financial Stress
Given that budget management was one of the biggest stress points in the findings, the key is to be intentional about where your money goes. Costs can quickly spiral when excitement takes over, but the right approach can help you spend smart and still deliver all the magic. To help with keeping costs down, luxury wedding planners Siobhan Craven Robbins and Andri Benson offer their tips.
Keep The Ceremony and Reception Together
Siobhan explains that the simplest way to keep costs down is by keeping both the ceremony and event in the same venue space.
“Along with this benefit, the need for transport for the couple (and potentially their guests) between the two venues isn’t required and often some of the ceremony decor can be moved to be utilised in the areas used for the dinner or dancing. Other suggestions are serving the cake as dessert and perhaps limiting the bar to wine, beer and soft drinks.”
Be Authentic and Scale Back the Guest List
Andri comments that while budgeting should be a priority, it’s important to remember what is important to you as a couple
“Focus on what matters most to you as a couple. It’s very easy to get swept up in traditions or details that don’t actually add meaning to your day. Decide early on what your priorities are e.g. food & drink, entertainment, décor etc and allocate your budget there. Don’t feel guilty about scaling back on other less important areas. The guest list has the biggest impact on cost, trimming numbers even slightly can make a huge difference, without compromising the experience.”
An expert from thortful comments, “Planning a wedding is one of the happiest, but financially challenging times of a persons life, it can feel like a constant cycle of swiping your credit card and wondering whether or not it will actually be worth it.”
“However, the couples who end up the happiest aren’t the ones with the biggest budget and biggest venue. It’s the ones who are smart about their money and focus on what is important to them. If you are able to not get bogged down by the little things and are able to start your marriage without a mountain of debt, then you are off to a good start.”
For more information about thortful and their offering of wedding card products, please visit; https://www.thortful.com/blog/the-wedding-report/
